The Walled Garden at the Hugo Burge Foundation was originally constructed in the late eighteeenth century to supply fresh produce to Marchmont House and the Estate.
In 1913, Marchmont House was purchased by Robert Finnie McEwen, who undertook an ambitious programme of renovations across the property. As part of this transformation, the Edinburgh-based company Mackenzie & Moncur constructed a set of superb glasshouses along the garden’s eastern flank.
In the 1970s and 80s the garden fell into decline. By the beginning of the twenty-first century the fruit trees were dead, the borders removed and the famous glasshouses in ruins.
In 2017, Hugo Burge — who had purchased Marchmont House with his father a decade earlier — decided to reimagine the Walled Garden. He built a fruit cage, replanted the vegetable beds and spent four years refurbishing the old glasshouses.
Hugo planned to turn the garden into a deeply personal space inspiring imagination and joy. He created traditional and contemporary garden features, interspersed with striking works of art.
On his death in 2023, Hugo bequeathed his pride and joy to his charity. The Walled Garden continues to evolve under the stewardship of the Hugo Burge Foundation, which for the first time in many decades is now open to the public on selected days throughout the year. In addition we use our expanded Kitchen Garden to provide fresh fruit and vegetables to local community larders and food charities.
We hope it inspires you as much as it did Hugo!
Tours available via our Events page
Event spaces
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Away Days for charities or community groups
Kitchen